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The First We 1Gration to Utah (1849)

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The First We 1Gration to Utah (1849) The First We 1gration to Utah (1849) B Y T. H . LEWIS • The year 1849 is very important in the history of the Latter-day Saint Mission in Wales, for it witnessed the first emigration of Latter-day Saints from Wales to Salt Lake City. The mission's leader was Captain Dan Jones, who was with the Prophet Joseph Smith in his last days at Carthage. He has become recognized as the founder of the Welsh Mission, although he was not the first person to preach the faith in Wales. With his headquarters at Merthyr Tydfil (South Wales), this fiery pioneer conducted such a vigorous crusade that, in a few years, thousands of Welshmen joined the Church. This article does not propose to deal with those early activities, details of which may be found in the interesting, but rare, LDS Welsh periodicals Prophwyd Y ]ubili (The Prophet of the Jubilee) and U dgorn Seion (Zion's Trumpet). It will suffice to say that in 1849 many Welsh Mormons were ready to accompany their leader to Salt Lake City. One of the last undertakings of Dan Jones before he left Wales was to attend the opening ceremony of the Saints' chapel at Llanelly, Carmarthenshire -a building which still stands. U dgorn Seion contains an interesting account of the departure of the Saints from Swansea (South Wales ) to what was then frequently referred to as California. But it might be better to quote a Swansea newspaper (The Cambrian), February 16, 1849 as it can be regarded as giving a detached and objective description: "Emigration to California "On Tuesday last, Swansea was quite enlivened in consequence of the arrival of several waggons, loaded with luggage, attended by some scores of the 'bold peasantry' of Carmarthenshire and almost an equal number of the inhabitants of Merthyr and the surrounding districts, to­ gether with their families. The formidable party were nearly all 'Latter­ day Saints' and came to this town for the purpose of proceeding to Liverpool in the Troubadour steamer, where a ship is in readiness to transport them next week to the glittering regions of California. "This goodly company is under the command of a popular Saint, known as Captain Dan Jones, a hardy traveller.... He arrived in the town on Tuesday night and seems to enjoy the respect and confidence of his faithful band. He entered the town under the gaze of hundreds -~~~~- - ---- of spectators, and in the evening he delivered his bands. Dan Jones was such an outspoken crusader valedictory address at the Trades' Hall to a numerous that he aroused not only great enthusiasm among his audience, the majority of whom were led by curiosity adherents but also great enmity among others. For to hear his doctrines, which are quite novel in this several days before leaving his home of Merthyr Tyd­ town. :6.1, he was in great peril, and his house was attacked "Amongst the group were many substantial farmers nightly for some weeks. For his own safety, Church from the neighbourhoods of Brechfa and Llanybydder, members afforded him round-the-clock protection. Carmarthenshire; and although they were well-to-do, He had to leave secretly because of possible attempts they disposed of their possessions to get to California, on his life. Some of the stories from South Wales had their New Jerusalem, as they deem it, where, their reached Liverpool, for in that town, the emigrants fanaticism teaches them to believe, they will escape were visited by some Welsh nonconformist ministers from the general destruction and conflagration that is who, however, were satisfied with the replies given shortly to envelope this earth .... They seem animated to their queries. only with the most devout feelings and aspirations, All the Welsh emigrants were housed in one large which seem to flow from no other source (judging six-storeyed building in Liverpool where they spent from their conversation) than a sincere belief that the six days at a cost of one shilling and sixpence a day for End of the World is at hand; and that their Great each person. Due to the efforts of Captain Dan Jones, Captain of Salvation is soon to visit his bobl yng advantageous terms were secured for the voyage­ ngwlad y Saint (people in the country of the Saints). namely, three pounds twelve shillings and sixpence ... Amongst the number who came here were several (including food) for all over fourteen, and three aged men varying from 70 to 90 years of age and pounds for the under-fourteens, as against the st.1m of 'whose hoary locks' made it very improbable they will five pounds (without food) which was charged in live to see America. Yet so deluded are the poor other ships. and simple Saints that they believe that everyone A service was held on board the Buena Vista on amongst them, however infirm and old they may be, Sunday, the 25th day of February, under the direction will as surely land in California safely, as they started of Captain Dan Jones. A branch of the Church was from Wales. Their faith is most extraordinary. effected aboard ship. Permission was given to use "On Wednesday morning, after being addressed the ship captain's deck for the choristers and "orches­ by their leader, all repaired on board in admirable tra" to render "The Saints' Farewell" for the last time. order and with extraordinary resignation. Their de­ The Buena Vista left Liverpool on Monday, Febru­ parture was witnessed by hundreds of spectators, and ary 26. As the ship moved away, " ... we were fol­ whilst the steamer gaily passed down the river, the lowed by our dear brethren - William Phillips Saints commenced singing a favorite hymn. On ( Merthyr), Abel Evans, Eliezer Edwards, and several entering the piers, however, they abruptly stopped other faithful Elders, together with David Jeremy, of singing and lustily responded to the cheering with Brechfa." They"... bought oranges and threw them which they were greeted by the inhabitants." into the ship as long as they were within reach." It is clear that these 1849'ers were serious and re­ By the time the ship was passing the Isle of Angle­ spectable folk. The steamer Troubadour took them to sey, everybody was seasick except Captain Dan Jones Liverpool whence they were to embark for New Or­ and Daniel Daniels. As the land of Wales was dis­ leans. appearing from view, Dan Jones ruminated on his William Phillips, who had succeeded Captain Dan sojourn there. "Why had I to flee before the sched­ Jones as president of the Welsh Mission, gave a de­ uled time? . .. Religious persecution was the cause, tailed account in U dgom Seion of the happenings at and God is not the source of persecution. No religion Liverpool. There were 240 Welshmen (excluding which persecutes emanates from Him ...." children) on board the Buena Vista, and 65 Welsh­ Cholera was prevalent at that time in New Orleans, men on the Hartley. All sorts of scurrilous stories as it was in many other places. These Welsh Saints had been broadcast about Dan Jones. Some had had only one death from cholera there. Two others asserted that he would sell the emigrants as slaves, had died from other causes aboard ship. and others maintained that some wives had joined Dan Jones · engaged a special steamboat to convey the emigrant group without the consent of their hus- his company from St. Louis to Council Bluffs, Iowa, 24~--~----------------------------~~~~~--~------------------------- which was the usual starting-point for the long trek was captain of the whole camp, Abel Evans was westward. A quantity of iron was bought at Council captain of the guards and William Beddoe (of Penydar­ Bluffs to make wagons. ren, Merthyr) the clerk of the camp. Among other Before leaving Council Bluffs, Dan Jones arranged officers named by him were Captain D. Evans (Llan­ for some of the company to stay at that place for the elly, South Wales), John Rees (Merthyr Tydfil), H. time being, and for a Welsh branch of the Church to Evans, the former president of the West Glamorgan be organized with William Morgans (of Rhymney, Conference. One gathers from his letter that condi­ South Wales) in charge. A Welsh newspaper was tions on the western trek were less formidable than published there. they had been in 1849: "The Saints are in good health; Soon, Dan Jones and his group were moving west­ everyone has his canvas tent as white as snow. Much ward. In a letter to William Phillips, dated July 13, milk in our camp is being thrown away as casually 1849, he mentioned that he was in "Omaha, the land as is the bathwater used by two or three Merthyr of the Indians." There was no time to describe the colliers. We have more milk than we can use." scene fully as "the mosquitoes were biting." He was When this group was within eighty miles of Salt on the point of venturing "into the depths of the west­ Lake City, whom did they meet but Captain Dan erly regions, out of touch with civilisation, and into Jones who was returning from Utah to Wales. When the midst of the red Indians in the forest lands." With !-,;fountain Creek was reached, some noise from a him were one hundred wagons. The journey from westerly direction was heard. That "noise" marked Liverpool to , Council Bluffs had cost each emigrant the coming of three of the early Welsh emigrants between six pounds and seven pounds. The letter con­ who had traveled between thirty and forty miles from cluded with a sad note: "Cholera has taken its toll the "valley" to meet the newcomers.
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